What the Federal Election result means for PS workers

"The CPSU will always seek to work constructively with the government of the day to represent and protect the interests of public servants. However our capacity to be effective is only as strong as our membership. If the Government does move against your pay, conditions and bargaining rights we will need a strong, organised and active membership. There has never been a more important time for public sector workers to protect themselves - and each other - by joining the CPSU." *

Pete's Points

It is interesting to note how swiftly the largest public service union has moved to shore up its membership numbers. Whether there is any validity in their argument about a strong membership being able to protect workers salaries and conditions is however moot.

With complete control of the Senate, as well as the House of Representatives, the government may not need to listen to the views of unions especially when a spokesman for the Liberal Party states that their post election polling results suggest that they now represent Australia's workers.

The government has already signalled more savings being required from within the Australian Public Service by increasing the so called 'productivity dividend' from 1% per annum to 1.25%. This is likely to mean a further cut of around $240 million across the country.

The amalgamation of six agencies into the new Department of Human Services will in all probability mean that some 'savings' will be found in avoiding "duplication" particularly among the more expensive management layers of the organisations. Since the members of the SES have always had a mutual protection society operating, albeit behind the scenes, it it the next layer of management that is most likely to be impacted.

The future within the next six months or so promises to be more than interesting.

*(Quoted from an editorial of the CPSU at: http://www.cpsu.org.au/site/editorial/1097817172_9691.html)